through her? She's the sort of lady who likes to fancy she's ill,
and likes to try all sorts of quack medicines."

"Well, you can look after her, Patty; you seem to understand her
so well."

"All right, I will. Hush, here she comes."

Mrs. Parsons came slowly out to the veranda. She was followed by
Mary, carrying a fan, a light wrap, a book, a thermometer, and a
glass of lemonade.

"Sit here, won't you, Aunt Adelaide?" said Mona, politely offering
a comfortable wicker chair.

"I'll try this, my dear, but I fear it's too low for me. Can you
get another cushion or two?"

Mona went for more cushions, and then Aunt Adelaide had to have
the chair moved, for fear of a possible draught,--though there
wasn't a breath of wind stirring. Then a table must be moved
nearer for the book and the lemonade, and the thermometer placed
where it would get neither sun nor wind.

"I ALWAYS keep a thermometer near me," she explained, "and I
always bring my own, for otherwise I can't feel sure they are
accurate."

Mrs. Parsons wore a dress of light grey lawn. Though cool looking,
it was unbecoming, for it had no touch of black or white to